Expandable composition tubulars

Abstract

Composite tubulars that have not been polymerized and are thus flexible enough to be coiled are delivered into a wellbore and expanded. The expansion occurs from an external catalyst such as heat or releases the internal catalyst and allows the expanded tubular to become rigid. Optionally, healing agents can be imbedded in the tubular wall to be released to seal subsequently forming cracks.

1. A method of installing a tubular string defined by a wall in a wellbore, said string capable of being put into an initial cylindrical dimension, comprising:
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible to the touch condition; 
 expanding the tubular string beyond said initial cylindrical dimension; 
 making said wall more rigid as a direct result of said expanding. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 making said tubular string from a non-metallic material. 
 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2 , comprising:
 storing a catalyst for a hardening reaction in the wall of said tubular string. 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3 , comprising:
 promoting a reaction with said catalyst from said expanding. 
 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 3 , comprising:
 making the tubular string from a composite epoxy resin and a fiber material. 
 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 3 , comprising:
 releasing said catalyst independently of said expanding. 
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 6 , comprising:
 accomplishing said independent releasing while expanding. 
 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 providing a liner within said tubular string. 
 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 making said liner from a metallic material. 
 
   
   
     10. A method of installing a tubular string defined by a wall in a wellbore, said string capable of being put into an initial cylindrical dimension, comprising:
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible to the touch condition; 
 expanding the tubular string beyond said initial cylindrical dimension; 
 making said wall more rigid as a direct result of said expanding; 
 inflating the tubular after positioning it in the wellbore to point short of expansion. 
 
   
   
     11. A method of installing a tubular string defined by a wall in a wellbore, said string capable of being put into an initial cylindrical dimension, comprising:
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible to the touch condition; 
 expanding the tubular string beyond said initial cylindrical dimension; 
 making said wall more rigid as a direct result of said expanding; 
 unrolling the tubular string from a coil prior to insertion into the wellbore. 
 
   
   
     12. A method of installing a tubular string in a wellbore, comprising:
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible condition; 
 expanding the tubular string; 
 making the tubular string more rigid; 
 providing a liner within said tubular string; 
 making said liner from a metallic material; 
 making said liner sacrificial upon said expanding. 
 
   
   
     13. A method of installing a tubular string defined by a wall in a wellbore, said string capable of being put into an initial cylindrical dimension, comprising:
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible to the touch condition; 
 expanding the tubular string beyond said initial cylindrical dimension; 
 making said wall more rigid as a direct result of said expanding; 
 providing a healing agent for sealing cracks in the wall of said tubular string. 
 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 encapsulating said healing agent during said expanding. 
 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 liberating said healing agent as a result of crack formation in the wall of said tubular string in the vicinity of where said healing agent is stored. 
 
   
   
     16. A method of installing a tubular string defined by a wall in a wellbore, said string capable of being put into an initial cylindrical dimension, comprising:
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible to the touch condition; 
 expanding the tubular string beyond said initial cylindrical dimension; 
 making said wall more rigid as a direct result of said expanding; 
 making said tubular string from a non-metallic material; 
 storing a catalyst for a hardening reaction in the wall of said tubular string; 
 making the tubular string from a composite epoxy resin and a fiber material; 
 providing a healing agent for sealing cracks in the wall of said tubular string; 
 liberating said healing agent as a result of crack formation in the wall of said tubular string in the vicinity of where said healing agent is stored. 
 
   
   
     17. A method of installing a tubular string defined by a wall in a wellbore, said string capable of being put into an initial cylindrical dimension, comprising;
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible to the touch condition; 
 expanding the tubular string beyond said initial cylindrical dimension; 
 making said wall more rigid as a direct result of said expanding; 
 making said tubular string from a non-metallic material; 
 storing a catalyst for a hardening reaction in the wall of said tubular string; 
 making the tubular string from a composite epoxy resin and a fiber material; 
 performing said expanding without cracking the wall of said tubular string. 
 
   
   
     18. A method of installing a tubular string in a wellbore, comprising:
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible condition; 
 expanding the tubular string; 
 making the tubular string more rigid; 
 making said tubular string from a non-metallic material; 
 storing a catalyst for a hardening reaction in the wall of said tubular string; 
 releasing said catalyst independently of said expanding; 
 accomplishing said independent releasing while expanding; 
 expanding with a swage; 
 attaching the source for said releasing to said swage. 
 
   
   
     19. A method of installing a tubular string defined by a wall in a wellbore, said string capable of being put into an initial cylindrical dimension, comprising:
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible to the touch condition; 
 expanding the tubular string beyond said initial cylindrical dimension; 
 making said wall more rigid as a direct result of said expanding; 
 making said tubular string from a non-metallic material; 
 storing a catalyst for a hardening reaction in the wall of said tubular string; 
 releasing said catalyst with at least one of nuclear, magnetic, electric or electromagnetic energy or light radiation or the addition of or exposure to a chemical. 
 
   
   
     20. A method of installing a tubular string in a wellbore, comprising:
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible condition; 
 expanding the tubular string; 
 making the tubular string more rigid; 
 making said tubular string from a non-metallic material; 
 storing a catalyst for a hardening reaction in the wall of said tubular string; 
 selectively depositing said catalyst outside of expected pay zones in the tubular. 
 
   
   
     21. A method of installing a tubular string in a wellbore, comprising:
 installing the tubular string into position in the wellbore while the tubular string is in a flexible condition; 
 expanding the tubular string; 
 making the tubular string more rigid; 
 making said tubular string from a non-metallic material; 
 storing a catalyst for a hardening reaction in the wall of said tubular string; 
 making the tubular string from a composite epoxy resin and a fiber material; 
 providing a healing agent for sealing cracks in the wall of said tubular string; 
 liberating said healing agent as a result of crack formation in the wall of said tubular string in the vicinity of where said healing agent is stored; 
 selectively depositing said healing agent outside of expected pay zones in the tubular.